Centrifugal machine.



S. PRESTWICH.

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15. 1916.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

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lIVVE/VTOR ha ATTORNEYS S. PRESTWICH.

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 15. 1916.

Patented Oct. 31,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I INVE/VTOR 53625726 97 H12 I hi9 ATTORNEHS WITNESSES:

S. PRESTWICH. CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15. 1916.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

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specification of Inert Patent. Pmm -flmm mnmg a 111mm application tilled March 1%, WW. hex-tall Jtto. WWW.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYDNEY 'PIRESTWICH, of Norwood, in the county of Hamilton, in the State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My invention has for its chief purpose to improve the construction of centrifugal machines, more particularly of the type employed for extracting liquids from solids, and embodying generally a vertically arranged spindle which carries a basket or container and is rotated within a suitable housing.

In a more specific aspect, the invention has to do with what are known as overdriven extractors, in which the basket is mounted at the lower end of the spindle while the latter is driven from its upper end and the purpose of my invention is in part to aflord an improved and durable drive mechanism, and to so mount the spindle as to allow the proper freedom of movement for the basket and spindle while finding a proper balanced position, without interfering in any way with the drive mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to afford a simple and efiicient cover locking mechanism, that is to say, means whereby the cover which permits access to. the basket can only be opened when the parts are at rest, and at the same time to prevent starting movement of the basket when the cover is in an open position.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating an overdriven extractor equipped with a preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. I; Fig. I is a sectional view on Fig. 3 with parts in elevation; Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 5' of line I -4: of

Fig. I; Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the spindlesupporting means; Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view in detail, showing the relation of the cover and spindle when the cover is in locked position; Fig. 8 1s a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit, and Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of the means employed for retaining the cover in elevated position.

Similar reference characters in the several figures indicate the same parts.

In the present embodiment of the improvement, 1 designate vertical standards which constitute a supporting frame for the spindle driving mechanism, and are mounted on the housing 2 within which is arranged a con tainer or basket 3 that is fixedly mounted on the vertical spindle 4 as will be described more fully presently. Pivotally arranged at the upper end of the standard 1 is a carrier, preferably in the form of an annular member 5 which is permitted to swing about a horizontal axis determined by the trunnions or posts 6. The driven member, from which movement is transmitted to the spindle, is arranged pivotally upon the carrier 5 in such a manner as to swing on a horizontal axis extending at right angles to the pivotal axis of the carrier so as swinging of the spindle, and in the present arrangement, I employ an electric motor which is pivotally mounted by means of trunnions or supports 8 arranged upon the carrier 5, as shown clearly in Fig. 5.

The armature shaft of the motor is designated by 9 and has fixed thereon a sleeve 10 carrying a bushing 11 which has a preferably squared interior cross section for engagement with a correspondingly squared end 12 at the upper end of the spindle 4 in order to efi'ect rotation of the spindle and at the same time permit relative longitudinal movement between the spindle and said armature shaft, in order to permit the spindle and basket to find their proper balanced positions on the spindle support which, in the present instance, is in the form of a curved surface 13. By thus supporting the spindle at its lower end, I remove all load or strain of the spindle and basket from the driven member, and obtain an easier drive, a stronger construction, and a more even movement of the basket with correspondingly less h'ietion.

to permit universal 14 is a shoe having a curved bottom arranged to engage'the aforesaid surface 13, and mountedmpon the lower end of the spindle. The surface 13 forms part of a chamber or receptacle 15 for contain ng a lubricating fluid. The shoe 14 is provided with a socket that receives a curved or semicircular head 15 which is carried at the lower endof the spindle 4 in rotary relation therewith, through the agency of the ball bearings 16 and disk bearings 17.

18 designates a cover supported upon brackets 19 which are carried on a pivoted rod 21. The cover includes an opening 22 which is of non-circular formation, preferably having flat sides 23. The opening 22 receives the spindle 4, and the latter carrles a locking portion preferably in the form of a collar 25 which is of a cross sectional contour corresponding to that of the opening 22,- and serves to prevent the cover from be ing elevated when the spindleis in rotation. The collar 25 is mounted fixedly on the spindle in a position above the cover when the latter is closed, as shown in F ig.- 1, and in order to. permit the cover to be-opened, the spindle must be rotated manually until the collar 25 is in registry with the opening 22, as shown in Fig. 3, and the cover may then be elevated to the position appearing in Fig. 4. It will be obvious that other means may be employed for carrying out the essential object of requiring a relative adjustment between the spindle and the cover beforethe latter is free to be elevated.

26 designates a guard pivotally mounted at 27 on the lower face of the cover.

28 is a spring which controls the guard while the latter serves to close an opening 28 which includes which is provided in the cover to accommodate the spindle as the cover is elevated. In order to retain the cover in elevated position, the brackets 19 are provided with lock 1ng portions 29 which are engaged by spring actuated locking members or pins 30, as shown in Fig. 4 and maintain the cover elevated While the b although a slight manual pressure is suflicient to overcome the action of the locking members 30 and release them from engagement with the portions 29 when the cover is to .be lowered as indicated in Fig. 2.

The motor is controlled by a circuit conductors 32 and 33 and a starting switch 34, while 35 is a switch that is adapted to be automatically controlled through opening and closing of the cover to effect starting and stopping of the motor. To this end, the cover has arranged for movement therewith a plunger 36, which is connected to a bracket 37 fixed upon the aforementioned rod 21. The plunger 37 has a reduced lower end 38 which engages an opening in the insulating block 39 forming part of the switch 35.

asket is being charged,

' which engages and 40 is a spring disposed between the insulating block 39, and a head 41 on the lower end of the plunger, and serving to msure closing the switch for cooperation w th the contact 42, to close the motor circuit. When the cover is elevated, the plunger 37 is moved downwardly and'as soon as the switch 1s engaged by the shoulder 43 of the plunger,

-the switch is also moved downwardly to open the circuit and stop movement of the motor. The spindle may then be brought to a standstill through a usual form of brake mechanism designated generally by 43, and forming no part of the present invention. After the spindle is brought to a standstill, the basket is turned manually until the cover is free to be elevated, so that the container can be emptied and recharged.

claim as my invention:

1. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a support frame, of .a carrier pivotally mounted on the support, an electric motor pivotally arranged on the carrier for movement about anaxis at right angles to the rotary axis of the carrier, a spindle extending downwardly from the motor and supported at its lower end, operative connections between the motor and the spindle for rotating the'latter, and a basket carried by the spindle.

In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a support frame, of an annular carrier pivotally mounted on said support to swing about a horizontal axis, an electric motor pivotally arranged on the carrier for movement about an axis at right angles to the rotary axis of the carrier, :1. spindle arranged vertically beneath'the motor and operatively connected to the armature shaft of the motor by means permitting relative longitudinal movement of said parts, a support for the lower end of the spindle, and a basket carried by the spindle.

3. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a support frame, of an annular 11o carrier pivotally mounted on said support to swing about a horizontal axis, an electric motor pivotally arranged on the carrier for movement about an axis at right angles to the rotary axis of the carrier, a spindle arranged vertically beneath the motor and operatively connected to the armature shaft of the motor by means permitting relative longitudinal movement of said parts, a basket carried by the spindle, a curved bearing or support, and a shoe mounted on the lower end of the spindle and having engagement with said bearing.

4. In-a centrifugal machine, the combination with a basket rotatively arranged with-' in a housing, of a vertical spindle on which the basket is mounted, a cover for the housing havin a non-circular opening to receive the spind e, and a portion on said spindle prevents opening the aoaeoo a closed and having a contour correspondlng to that of the aforesaid opening and acting to prevent the cover from being raised until the cover and spindle are moved relatively.

so that the collar and opening are in registry. 7

6. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a basketrotatively arranged within a housing, of a verticalspindle on which the basket is mounted, a cover for the housing, an electric motor for driving said spindle, a motor circuit, and a switch controlling said circuit and actin to open it when said cover is elevated an to close it when the cover is lowered.

7. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a basket'rotatively arranged within a housing, of a vertical the basket is mounted, a cover for the housing, a locking portion movable with the cover, and a locking member having engagement with said locking portion when the cover is elevated and acting to retain it in such position.

8. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a basket rotatively arranged within a housing, of a vertical spindle on which the basket is mounted, a cover for the housing, a locking portion movable with the cover, and a spring controlled locking member rotatively arranged with-' spindle on which having engagement with said locking portion when the cover is elevated and acting to retain it in such position.

I 9. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a basket rotatively arranged within a housing, of a vertical spindle on which the basket is mounted, a cover for the housing having a non-circular opening to receive the spindle, and a portion on the spindle having a cross-sectional contour cooperating with said openingin the cover and requiring that the opening and said portion on the spindle be moved relatively to bring them into registry before the cover can be raised.

10. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a support, of an annular carrier pivotally mounted on the support to swing about a horizontal axis, an electric motor pivotally arranged on the carrier for movement about an axis at right an les to the rotary axis of the carrier, a spin le arranged vertically beneath the motor and operatively connected to said motor, and a basket carried by the spindle.

11. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a support, of an annulus or ring pivotally mounted on the support to swing about a horizontal axis, an electric motor pivotally arranged on said annulus or ring for movement about a horizontal axis at right angles to the first mentioned axis, a spindle arranged vertically beneath the motor and operatively connected thereto by means permitting relative longitudinal movement of the spindle and motor, and

a basket carrieg by the spindle.

YDNEY PRES'IGII. Witnesses:

Jos. H. Srnnn, C. L. Br. 

